The Internet: Impact of Connectivity

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

I couldn't find a thread anywhere on Simtropolis for discussion on the impact of the internet anywhere. I think such a topic is quite prevalent in our society and I thought that a topic for discussion on its impact, freedom of information or anything else related would be appropriate. Anyhow, I included a poll on the top just to see what people think on these subjects.

Anyways, on to a topic of discussion.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2387486,00.asp

Its an old article from late-June however, I'm quite please myself to hear that the Dutch are approving a net neutrality law. This law will basically prevent Internet Providers from charging higher fees on sites and services such as "Skype". It will also require providers to ask for consent before placing "cookies". KPN, an internet provider, told the dutch parliament that this law would increase consumer internet fees dramatically. However, I believe the benefits of this to outweigh the negatives.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

I voted with the angels on the creativity issue and against the idea of it being a human right. I like the idea of net neutrality, even if it may increase fees. The idea that governments could get a choke hold on the Internet phenomenon is like trying to lock the barn while the horses have gone.

The idea of a human right is violated by the thought that a mechanical process can be one. Human rights have to be something inherent in being. If the Internet went away, no one would actually be injured, now would they? Sure many people would feel that their ox had been gored, but all it means is that they'd be reduced to some other communications medium. Human right? Not on your tin-type, Nellie.

  Edited July 15, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[jacksunny 741]

There should be an option that reads Both yes and no for the first one as the internet does have its negative and positive effects. Mostly positive though so I voted yes.

[Easy Bakes 253]

The google Effect
  Edited July 15, 2011 by Easy Bakes  

[jacksunny 741]

Apparently my brain has been infiltrated by the Google Effect.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

And I am not. I hit the next button every time. I am just not that curious.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

1. The Internet is a common tool that improves many people's lives through education and entertainment but it is NOT by the LONGEST SHOT a human right by ANY reasonable definition of "human right" and absolutely no definition of "Basic Human Right."

2. I have a genetic disposition to addiction and I am addicted to food and electronic entertainment. I was told at a young age to avoid any addictive substances to prevent ever having to go to rehab or anything like that.

3. The Internet has several positive impacts on the world but as technology is marching on, the Internet has gained more and more negative impacts and the negative impacts have increased in severity as well.

4. I have no opinion on net neutrality yet because I have not formed one yet. If the Internet was limited to only what qualifies as .edu, .org, .gov or country codes (.uk, .usa, etc.), I would not like it but I would understand because governments and educational establishments were the inventors, earliest users, and primary focus of the Internet. The World Wide Web with .biz, .info, .com, etc have the worst of the Internet. If a country wants to provide citizens with free access to internet with limits to only .edu, .org, .gov, and their countries' space (.cn for instance), I cannot argue though paying customers who are legal adults should be able to access any part of the internet they pay for in private places where they paid for it (which means that those that pay for internet at home should be able to access everything).

5. Governments creating too many "human rights" can actually be detrimental on society because it makes people more dependent on the government and allows the government to exact more payment or control on the citizenry. If the World Wide Web was taken offline, no one should complain about human rights.

  Edited July 18, 2011 by OcramSeattle  

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

I voted with the angels on the creativity issue and against the idea of it being a human right. I like the idea of net neutrality, even if it may increase fees. The idea that governments could get a choke hold on the Internet phenomenon is like trying to lock the barn while the horses have gone.

The idea of a human right is violated by the thought that a mechanical process can be one. Human rights have to be something inherent in being. If the Internet went away, no one would actually be injured, now would they? Sure many people would feel that their ox had been gored, but all it means is that they'd be reduced to some other communications medium. Human right? Not on your tin-type, Nellie.

Well the internet has sort of been made a human right. Not really the right to have internet access, but more the right to not have it taken away. The UN basically stated that disconnecting people from the internet is a violation of human rights and international law. However, I can see that you are right in the point you're making Moose. The internet isn't a human necessity even communication wise because if we were completely disconnected from the internet we would find alternative means of communication.

Source: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/06/internet-a-human-right/

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Fortunately for us, this time, the UN is not a law-making body. It has to go hat-in-hand to each of its members to get such nonsense enforced in any way at all. As usual, those who knew the least, said the most.

[Duke87 1,070]

Well, the internet has, as intended, revolutionized both education and business. Hard to argue that's not a big plus.

What's more interesting, though, are the social ramifications. The internet makes it possible to find people that it was not previously possible to find. Two of our very own admins are married and only met each other because of the internet. Many people with quirky or unusual hobbies or interests have been able to find others out there with the same hobby/interest thanks to the internet. I have several friends who share my fascination with roads - if not for the internet, I would not be aware there was anyone other than myself out there with this interest.

Of course, this is a double edged sword. It's great when the internet allows people who have quirky interests to find each other. But the internet also allows people who have unusual but destructive interests to find each other, and in doing so gives validation to tendencies which are better off discouraged (pedophilia is the obvious example).

It can also be problematic because it breeds escapism. People who are unpopular, less socially inclined, or less attractive often use the internet as a substitute for making "real" friends, at which point it becomes a crutch taken in lieu of actually solving the problem. Unlike actual drugs, this does not hurt people physically, but it can be harmful psychologically and it can also be detrimental to one's ability to be successful in life.

The internet has, of course, also done amazing things for freedom of information. It is that much more difficult for a government to effectively spread propaganda when it's much easier to expose the falseness of it through media such as YouTube, Facebook, etc.

The flipside to freedom of information, though, is that people just don't have privacy like they used to.

So yeah, the internet has changed the world. Definitely overall for the better, but naturally as with anything, there are downsides.

Oh, and no, internet access is not a human right. That's asinine.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Yes, I know that there are some people with no "real friends" but have many Internet acquaintances and thus think themselves popular. I myself have a problem though I know the differences and do not currently avoid talking.

I can count my real(-life, close personal) friends with my hands but I connected on facebook every classmate and old friend I ever thought I knew. Then there are the people on the internet in which I know how they write, I only connected on facebook with 2 of them but I met them a long time ago and have kept in contact with them ever since.

My disability makes it difficult for me to make new friends but I have developed great listening skills and learned to pay complete attention to any conversation I participate in and say one or two word phrases every once in a while. I am only talkative (with my mouth) when I am in my element (science (especially chemistry), math (partially excluding calculus), computers (especially entertainment), and Japanese culture (especially manga derivatives), and food (partially excluding fast food)) or with people I know really really well (extended family and close friends).

  Edited July 18, 2011 by OcramSeattle  

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Duke87 covers the ground very well.

Because of privacy concerns, I stay off the social media. I've been a relatively private person all my life, and the friends I make are very strong ones. Many of them have now shuffled off this mortal coil, but I do reach out to new people whom I encounter who seem interesting and interested in me.

The extension to communications provided by the Internet has provided instant news and views worldwide. This is a privilege not a right.

  Edited July 19, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[x493x 446]

Think of all the things that would've turned out differently without the internet.

- people would still call each other to talk

- things like the Egypt "get out" riots wouldn't have been so co-ordinated

- you would have to seach through a whole library of books to get one bit of info

-........Simtropolis wouldn't be here.

Of course the internet has impacted the world and in a positive way, it unites us and makes things more available to us.

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

Well it's actually quite intreseting because I was watching this lecture by the RSA; The lecturer (forgot his name) was making the point that some "cyber utopians" who are people who believe in the power of the internet to change the world for the better who claim that if blogs and this level of access to information was around the time of the rwandan genocide, it could have been prevented.

The level of connectivity that the internet gives us, in fact, inhibits the influence of democracy. Take for example Egypt. Because of the accessibility to the Internet, a modern revolution was created. I believe this personally happened much faster due to the Internet because people who can relate with the same ideals can gather much more easily to protest the government. It's even appropriate to ask the question, "Could the Egyptian revolution have happened if there wasn't such thing as this convenient access of information known as the Internet?"

What I find the most interesting is the way this type of medium works. The reason why this system has such a great influence is what I believe to be for a number of reasons.

1. It's virtually indestructible. Since this system is made up of interconnected components. If one major hub were to shutdown, you would still be able to access the same information. For example if a site shuts down, does the entire system? Of course not. the only way to truely destroy the Internet is to destroy the entire world.

2. It's liberalisation. Compared to many information sources, the fact that this source is convenient allows for the creation of new ideas and concepts virtually instantly accessible to anyone. it's even hard for third parties to block and censor all sites and content which they find offensive or what not because of the vast amount of content which can be created instantly.

It's strange to see such a change in the world so rapidly. Even as I'm writing this I'm using my cellphone to type this out. Of course I've almost hit a few bikes but I was quite engaged in this topic where I found the urge to reply.

  Edited July 20, 2011 by elemented9  

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

I got lost in your second paragraph ^. I think there is a line missing. Please have a look and maybe edit it.

As for the Egypt situation: They are back to square zero. The army always ran the country, all they have done is remove the mouthpiece. The military in Egypt are too smart to attack the people. They'll just find a way to stick a pacifier in their mouths. One thing some of the stupid dictators in the middle-east haven't learned is that you don't kill your cattle.

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

I got lost in your second paragraph ^. I think there is a line missing. Please have a look and maybe edit it.

As for the Egypt situation: They are back to square zero. The army always ran the country, all they have done is remove the mouthpiece. The military in Egypt are too smart to attack the people. They'll just find a way to stick a pacifier in their mouths. One thing some of the stupid dictators in the middle-east haven't learned is that you don't kill your cattle.

Yeah, that's obvious to many. Strange that these guys don't have the capacity to understand that concept.

Edited. Thanks for that.

[Meg 368]

With Simtropolis, Ryan and Samantha would never have gotten married.

One of the best things about the internet is it allows regular people from different countries to talk with each other. We are not being filtered through our governments or the media. Places on the far end of the world become more "real" when you know someone who lives there.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Without Simtropolis, Ryan and Samantha would never have gotten married.

One of the best things about the Internet is it allows regular people from different countries to talk with each other. We are not being filtered through our governments or the media. Places on the far end of the world become more "real" when you know someone who lives there.

Meg, I am sure you mean "without Simtropolis". That's how I read it, anyway.

[Meg 368]

Without Simtropolis, Ryan and Samantha would never have gotten married.

One of the best things about the Internet is it allows regular people from different countries to talk with each other. We are not being filtered through our governments or the media. Places on the far end of the world become more "real" when you know someone who lives there.

Meg, I am sure you mean "without Simtropolis". That's how I read it, anyway.

Indeed. Just a typo. Thanks for catching it.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Without Simtropolis, Ryan and Samantha would never have gotten married.

One of the best things about the Internet is it allows regular people from different countries to talk with each other. We are not being filtered through our governments or the media. Places on the far end of the world become more "real" when you know someone who lives there.

Meg, I am sure you mean "without Simtropolis". That's how I read it, anyway.

Indeed. Just a typo. Thanks for catching it.

I know you meant to say what you meant, but you didn't say what it was. Well, it is so sticky here that I am sticking to my keyboard. But back on theme:

The Internet is essential to a lot of people, including me. I am a partial shut-in with limited mobility, so being on the 'net means a lot to me.

[astronelson 339]

As a university student, I can do barely anything without the internet. I mean this quite seriously. Applying for courses is done online, as is getting my timetable. I must also enroll in tutorials and labs, which are done on the course page and the lab page, respectively. Assignments are posted online, and are not available from the lectures. Some of these assignments are submitted online, too. If I have missed something in the lectures I can read the course notes, which can only be downloaded. If something still eludes me I can ask questions in the course forums and receive a reply reasonably quickly from other students or the lecturers.

A few of the assignments require research to be done. The internet is invaluable here. Almost all scientific papers published within the past few decades are available online. This is quicker and easier than searching the library for a scientific journal it may or may not have.

At the end (and, for some courses, also in the middle) of the semester we have exams. The times and locations of these are to be found online. And when all is done, the results are published on the internet. At this point I am most certainly on holidays and may be over 1000km away from the university. Despite this, I can check my results as soon as they are posted and look back and wish I had done more study, rather than faffing about on the internet.

I did say I can be over 1000km away from the university. This distance is because I go and visit my family. To cover this distance I fly. The booking is made online. A PDF is emailed to me, containing, among other things, a barcode that must be scanned at the airport so I can receive my boarding pass.

While university degrees and plane tickets could be attained without the internet (and still can, presumably, depending on the university and airline in question), the existence of the internet has fundamentally changed the way they are gotten. And not only these, but innumerable other facets of life have similarly been adjusted. Given the increased convenience of many things, the ability to share and debate ideas with others around the world (as, I note, we are doing right now), and the fact that we can do so many things we once could not, I would say for the better.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Those of us who use the internet daily have become dependent on it.

[Easy Bakes 253]

As a university student, I can do barely anything without the internet. I mean this quite seriously. Applying for courses is done online, as is getting my timetable. I must also enroll in tutorials and labs, which are done on the course page and the lab page, respectively. Assignments are posted online, and are not available from the lectures. Some of these assignments are submitted online, too. If I have missed something in the lectures I can read the course notes, which can only be downloaded. If something still eludes me I can ask questions in the course forums and receive a reply reasonably quickly from other students or the lecturers.

A few of the assignments require research to be done. The internet is invaluable here. Almost all scientific papers published within the past few decades are available online. This is quicker and easier than searching the library for a scientific journal it may or may not have.

At the end (and, for some courses, also in the middle) of the semester we have exams. The times and locations of these are to be found online. And when all is done, the results are published on the internet. At this point I am most certainly on holidays and may be over 1000km away from the university. Despite this, I can check my results as soon as they are posted and look back and wish I had done more study, rather than faffing about on the internet.

Sounds like your saving a lot of money on books.

[x493x 446]

Education is a big part of the internet. When I think of it I wouldn't know a LOT of stuff if it wasn't for the internet. Now when it's raining outside and somebody's bored, instead of reading (or doing whatever people did before the internet) they go on the internet and just start exploring, learning new things that they wouldn't have had the time to learn before. The internet makes so much more available to us, I'd say that's a positive.

  Edited July 21, 2011 by x493x  

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Astro, you are clearly a child of the age.

When you go to lectures, how much of the lecture is conducted using a projector on the university's network?

When I was teaching in the '90s, we did a lot of that because it beat the daylights out of having to write all that stuff on the white boards. Besides, when teaching programming, the illustrations could be compiled and run with immediate results seen on the screen (projected). Just as I retired, the college opened a new building that was WiFi everywhere. It included the college library, and had many on-line study carrels. Laptops were more common in the cafeteria than food.

There was a movement in some of the technical courses to put all the material of the course on-line, including a scheduled chat line for the lecturer. This would have practically eliminated physical office hours, as the instructor had only to be on-line at the stated times. I, for example, would have been able to conduct these chats from my home office.

[astronelson 339]

I do not necessarily save on textbooks - the courses still have prescribed texts, although in most cases you can get by without them.

Astro, you are clearly a child of the age.

When you go to lectures, how much of the lecture is conducted using a projector on the university's network?

Certainly more than half of it. The lecturer generally has the slides saved on their university account and logs into that at the start. There are a few lecturers who either do not use prepared slides or use only a few per lecture, and many draw on the whiteboards to further illustrate points, but the majority of the lecture is through a data projector.

There was even a time in physics last year when students were asked to bring their laptops in to participate in online discussions run during the lecture and projected onto the other screen.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

It is probably better to have open discussions like a chat room in such a class, as the notes are then in writing.

[x493x 446]

Even where I go, for some exams you don't have an option between paper or computer, you have to take your exams online, just shows how the times are changing more in the favour of technology.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Even where I go, for some exams you don't have an option between paper or computer, you have to take your exams online, just shows how the times are changing more in the favour of technology.

I find it hard to believe that examinations can be conducted on the Internet. What about security? What about oversight?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Even where I go, for some exams you don't have an option between paper or computer, you have to take your exams online, just shows how the times are changing more in the favour of technology.

I find it hard to believe that examinations can be conducted on the Internet. What about security? What about oversight?

hopefully the school would make you take them at a testing center were the computers, once your in the test dont allow you to access any outside source.

thats how i took my Net+ exam which was my 1st experence with online testing.

some how i dont think the schools care as long as your bills are paid.